Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. His low back strain disability was increased from 10% to 20%. The veteran does not dispute these determinations and the appeal for an increased rating has not been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disorder and entitlement to service connection for a heart disorder due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease, effective December 5, 2000.

The Board has granted a 60% rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, which is the maximum schedular award under Diagnostic Code 5293.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left arm, left shoulder, neck, and low back disabilities based on a finding that they were not well-grounded.

The veteran's disabilities, including her service-connected low back disability and her non-service-connected dysthymia and varicose veins, are deemed to be disabling enough to prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment. As a result, she is entitled to non-service-connected pension.

The Board has denied the veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an increased rating for otitis media of the left ear. The decision also noted that the issue involving the increased rating for otitis media of the left ear is pending on remand.

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder, thus denying the claim.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain and bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome were both granted increased ratings, with the lumbosacral strain receiving a 20% rating.

The veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability was granted with an effective date of March 30, 2000. The Board found that the May 1989 claim became final due to non-appeal and thus, the effective date is assigned as the date the claim was received by the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected right knee disability and has also granted an increased evaluation for chronic right knee pain with right patellectomy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for evaluations of his degenerative left femoral spur with history of fibroxanthoma and status post herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine, status post partial laminectomy L5-S1.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder did not have its onset during service or for many years after service, and was not otherwise shown to be of service origin. The claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's current low back disability is related to his service, and grants service connection for a status post lumbar spine fracture and diskectomy. The right ankle disability remains at 20 percent as it does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of this level.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic lumbar strain warrants a 40 percent rating, which is higher than the current 20 percent rating. The evidence shows severe loss of lateral motion and osteo-arthritic changes in the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine traumatic arthritis with possible disc disease warrants a rating of 10 percent, and his claim for an increased rating is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's postoperative lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, consisting of residuals of multiple low back surgeries, is considered to have been incurred in service as a progression of his service-connected sacroiliitis with left sciatic neuropathy.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected gunshot wound residuals, finding that they do not meet the criteria for more than moderate impairment.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical and thoracic spine is rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 5293.